Government to Launch $1 Billion Ghana-UAE Innovation and Technology Hub at Dawa

ACCRA, GHANA – Ghana is poised to become a major hub for artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies with the announcement of a landmark partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The government is set to launch the Ghana-UAE Innovation and Technology Hub, a transformative $1 billion project located at Dawa, as confirmed by Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Sam George.

The ambitious initiative, a collaboration with the UAE's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), aims to accelerate Ghana's digital transformation and establish the nation as a technological powerhouse in Africa. The hub, which will span a 25-square-kilometer innovation district in Ningo-Prampram, will serve as a regional base for AI engineering, business process outsourcing (BPO), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), and machine learning data generation.

The first phase of the project, which is fully financed by the PCFC, will see the Government of Ghana providing the necessary land. The initiative is expected to attract over 11,000 global tech companies operating under the PCFC umbrella, including industry giants such as Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, IBM, and Alphabet, all of whom are looking to expand their presence in Ghana and across the African continent.

Minister Sam George, who also represents the Ningo-Prampram constituency in Parliament, stated that the hub will create a space where "investment meets ingenuity, where the creativity of Ghana's youth is matched with opportunities to try, and where advanced technologies are developed, deployed and exported." He added that the project aligns perfectly with the government's flagship "One Million Coders Programme," designed to equip Ghanaian youth with skills in AI, cybersecurity, data protection, and digital governance.

The Ghana-UAE Innovation and Technology Hub is seen as a catalyst for local innovation and job creation, with the companies operating within the hub expected to employ local talent rather than bringing in expatriates. The project underscores the government's commitment to diversifying the economy and ensuring that technology and innovation are primary drivers of inclusive and sustainable development.